Tesla said to be working on its own AI chip for self-driving cars

In a bid to reduce its dependence on Nvidia, Tesla is developing its own AI processor to power self-driving cars, reports CNBC. Presently, Nvidia supplies graphic processing units (GPUs) which power Tesla’s Autopilot and future self-driving system.

According to the report, it’s the semiconductor company AMD that’s helping Tesla in its ambitions. The electric carmaker has apparently already received the first samples of its processor prototype for testing too.

Besides decreasing its reliance on third-party AI processing hardware, the move will help Tesla gain better control over a key aspect of its own supply chain, and a corresponding increase in overall system efficiency and performance.

The news that Tesla is working on its own AI chip comes on the heels of another revelation that the company is developing a new hardware suite with more computing power to help achieve its goal of full automation.

Tesla’s autopilot business is run by Jim Keller, who has worked with AMD in the past and then at Apple, where he helped design the Apple A4 and A5 in-house processors.